Poke'mon USA is worse than 4Kids.

Usopp with a Pushpop

A while back it was announced that 4Kids Entertainment lost their rights over the Poke'mon anime dub to Poke'mon USA. We rejoiced!

Yet, Poke'mon USA has proven to be nothing more than cheap bastards. Why do I say this? Well, why don't you all just read this.

http://pocketmonsters.net/node/3311

That's right friends. Poke'mon USA fired every last one of the original 4Kids Poke'mon voice actors and replaced them with cheap impersonators. Obviously Poke'mon USA thinks that money is more important than 10 years of tradition.

Care to protest? Make your voice heard by signing this petition.
http://www.petitiononline.com/pkmnRB/petition.html

Cap'n Carter

Well, Sega fired all of the Sonic voice actors just as abruptly and replaced them with the 4Kids actors.

You haven't even heard these actors yet and you're complaining? Wow.

NeoShweaty

still after 9+ years with the same actors, it is a bit odd hearing these new people just out of the blue. I mean i dont watch it anymore but i have an idea of what ash sounds like and misty and brock etc

KatanaJon1.1

Obviously Poke'mon USA thinks that money is more important than 10 years of tradition.

Find me a company that doesn't think money is important.

Usopp with a Pushpop

If you guys were Poke'mon fans like me, you'd understand my anger over the situation.

NeoShweaty

i was a fan of the show…until i wised up and realized that it was the same thing over and over and over and over. This must suck for you tho

They were its dub VAs for 10 years. 10 years! It was like a tradition.

The voice actors were perfectly fine and they had to fire every single VA for the sake of cash.

Insignificant, money grubbing jerk-offs.

Ms. Suave Debonair

While I can see many pokemon fans are disappionted by the news. I can see where the company stands on this, if it is cheaper for them to just simply hire new actors then I'm sure that is what they go for. Maybe there is 9 years of tradition but that tradition lies with another company.
Plus, the general target audience are people who couldn't really tell or I doubt much care about the voices changing.

Sandai Mera

Obviously Poke'mon USA thinks that money is more important than 10 years of tradition.

If you remember all the crap 4Kid$$$ was notorious for doing you probably wouldn't be able to realize the slight irony in that statement would you?

Dragon Warrior Steve

Who cares, it's Pokemon, the show shouldn't even be going on anymore.

Greg

They still make Pokemon??

narutoandichigo

Yes, and it's at about a total of 833 episodes now in Japan.

Dragon Warrior Steve

@narutoandichigo:

Yes, and it's at about a total of 833 episodes now in Japan.

Talk about jumping the shark. They must of jumped over 20 of them by now.

CaptainAWB1

I don't care about Pokemon, but I know what you mean, Pushpop. A change like this after so many years is no small matter. At least Pikachu's voice won't change.

Buuhan1

@narutoandichigo:

Yes, and it's at about a total of 833 episodes now in Japan.

King of anime.

King of anime REPETITIVENESS!

Usopp with a Pushpop

This post is deleted!

Zhi

What?! 800+ episodes?! O_O Daaayum…

As for this news... I'll decide what I think of it when I get to hear the actors myself. I didn't like the original dubbed voice actors, so this isn't exactly a shocker to me.

But if 4kids lost their rights to Pokemon (something I thought would never happen considering all they've done), think there's a chance One Piece would be saved and dubbed by... like the actors of Disgaea or something?

TakinawaTonfa

@narutoandichigo:

Yes, and it's at about a total of 833 episodes now in Japan.

You mean the show STILL hasn't died?

So, is anyone else picturing Pikachu in a cyrogenically frozen chamber communicating telepathically to a Nintendo's Marketing Department?

Greg

Well, Sazae san and Doraemon still best that don't they?

Throes

I think we should hear the new voice actors before saying anything negative. I mean, for all we know they could be better than the 4kids ones. And maybe Pokemon USA (interested even more in money) will leave in as much of the original as possible (including BGM) to have as cheap a dub as possible. So you never know, this could be a good thing.

One note. How would you feel if you were a fan of the One Piece dub, and after it airing for 10 years, a company like, oh say, Viz took over and completely replaced the voice cast. Would you be upset?

Malintex_Terek

Strong irony here.

taboo

This really sucks. I loved the voices of Team Rocket~

I find this whole thing funny though. They have this whole company dedicated to pokemon, and they drop the voices that fans loved for years and years. You have to think about this, this isn't One Piece where the characters are new, this is pokemon and alot of the fans have been so for a while now. I think… that this decision is going to backfire. How much money would it cost to keep the old VAs anyway? Oh wait... probably more than a bum on the street, my bad. =/ I haven't actually watched that show in a few years now, but I feel you guy's pain.

Greg

I'm just surprised this many people care about Pokemon. I must be getting old.

Quexinos

I really don't think changing anything 4kids does can be bad.

Malintex_Terek

@omae:

I'm just surprised this many people care about Pokemon. I must be getting old.

In truth, after the Indigo season ended, Pokemon wasn't really worth watching. However, I doubt that's what's really ticking off people; I myself and more concerned with the welfare of the voice actors than the overall quality of the show. They're basically typecasted as 4Kids agents despite being free to work with any project in the New York area; as such, it'll be difficult for them to find work, and since they helped father some of my fondest childhood memories (as I was a thirteen year old brat during my rompings around Bulbagarden at the dawn of the new millennium), I find it a real shame to have their careers cut (though not short) before the Pokemon series concludes.

Quexinos

you know I could have sworn I read something about how they weren't going to change the VAs… I wonder what made them change their mind.

Usopp with a Pushpop

@Sonique:

you know I could have sworn I read something about how they weren't going to change the VAs… I wonder what made them change their mind.

The one thing that Poke'mon USA cares about most.

Money.

warp

even tho im not a fan of the show anymore this is disapointing to hear. This was 4kids best va cast. I just hope they dont replace pikachu with some american va. Disapointed…

Cap'n Carter

@Usopp:

The one thing that Poke'mon USA cares about most.

Money.

Again, you'll be hard pressed to find ANY company or business whose #1 priority isn't money.

Aoi Neko

Yes, maybe we should first listen to the new cast before judging them. Besides, they might sound real close to the original ones. Like warp, I'm no longer a Poke'mon fan, but I don't like the sound of 4Kids VAs being replaced either.
All people care about these days is money, money, money. Grrrrr….. >.<

Greg

Again, you'll be hard pressed to find ANY company or business whose #1 priority isn't money.

Yeah. If you believe there's any major business that does anything for, "The hearts and souls of the fans", you've got a long way to go.

However, beyond just demonizing them, I'll admit I have no experience in knowing wtf this Pokemon USA is or what deal went down and what it was before (Pokemon was way after my childhood) but is there any solid explanation for precisely why the changes were made? Was it cheaper?

I know when FUNimation struck out on its own and hired a librarian to voice Freeza I was pissed as hell but since they were doing direct-to-video sales it makes sense that they couldn't hire big talent like Ocean's people. Pokemon is obviously a GINORMOUS franchise so if you'll allow me to summarize my feelings, what's the dilly yo?

All people care about these days is money, money, money. Grrrrr….. >.<

When you buy your first house or start paying back your student loans you'll find out it's pretty important too.

Malintex_Terek

@omae:

I know when FUNimation struck out on its own and hired a librarian to voice Freeza I was pissed as hell but since they were doing direct-to-video sales it makes sense that they couldn't hire big talent like Ocean's people. Pokemon is obviously a GINORMOUS franchise so if you'll allow me to summarize my feelings, what's the dilly yo?

The internet has made interaction with actors/voice actors a great deal more personal in recent years, and as is the case with all human interaction, those people grow a great deal closer to the fans, and visa versa. Just knowing that voice actors exist instead of having them as nameless voices behind television humanizes them, and therefore, facilitates empathy for them.

Assuredly, the 4Kids VAs, like Ocean before them and FUNimation afterward, have become big names, too; however, they've been typecasted as 4Kids VAs because of their long tenure with Pokemon. As such, when we have someone like Veronica Taylor who entered the business at eighteen, it'll be difficult for her to find stable work after years of earning a reasonable paycheck from 4Kids. As such, with the knowledge that they are people, are not paid well (as is) and are facing the prospect of losing their jobs, the situation appears quite grim.

One could argue that "there are tons of people who lose jobs everyday", or, "the new VA's will be in the same boat the 4Kids VAs were when they started out", and "this will be another FUNimation DBZ dub". Call me selfish, but I really couldn't care less; as is the case with all people, we really do not bother with issues unless our own interests are violated or threatened in some way. In this case, it's a euthanisation of a bunch of people I've taken a liking to.

Greg

Assuredly, the 4Kids VAs, like Ocean before them and FUNimation afterward, have become big names, too; however, they've been typecasted as 4Kids VAs because of their long tenure with Pokemon. As such, when we have someone like Veronica Taylor who entered the business at eighteen, it'll be difficult for her to find stable work after years of earning a reasonable paycheck from 4Kids. As such, with the knowledge that they are people, are not paid well (as is) and are facing the prospect of losing their jobs, the situation appears quite grim.

One could argue that "there are tons of people who lose jobs everyday", or, "the new VA's will be in the same boat the 4Kids VAs were when they started out", and "this will be another FUNimation DBZ dub". Call me selfish, but I really couldn't care less; as is the case with all people, we really do not bother with issues unless our own interests are violated or threatened in some way. In this case, it's a euthanisation of a bunch of people I've taken a liking to.

Well, I understand all that but I guess my question is, has there been any solid reason for the rearrangement? I'd be interested in hearing what it is because unlike FUNimation who can rightfully claim they had to penny-pinch at the time (despite the awful-sounding voices) it doesn't seem like Pokemon USA has an good excuse for this. Regardless, does anyone know what it is?

Usopp with a Pushpop

@Malintex_Terek:

The internet has made interaction with actors/voice actors a great deal more personal in recent years, and as is the case with all human interaction, those people grow a great deal closer to the fans, and visa versa. Just knowing that voice actors exist instead of having them as nameless voices behind television humanizes them, and therefore, facilitates empathy for them.

Assuredly, the 4Kids VAs, like Ocean before them and FUNimation afterward, have become big names, too; however, they've been typecasted as 4Kids VAs because of their long tenure with Pokemon. As such, when we have someone like Veronica Taylor who entered the business at eighteen, it'll be difficult for her to find stable work after years of earning a reasonable paycheck from 4Kids. As such, with the knowledge that they are people, are not paid well (as is) and are facing the prospect of losing their jobs, the situation appears quite grim.

One could argue that "there are tons of people who lose jobs everyday", or, "the new VA's will be in the same boat the 4Kids VAs were when they started out", and "this will be another FUNimation DBZ dub". Call me selfish, but I really couldn't care less; as is the case with all people, we really do not bother with issues unless our own interests are violated or threatened in some way. In this case, it's a euthanisation of a bunch of people I've taken a liking to.

Thank you!!!!!!!

LightningAce

Ok this is just fuckin stupid, how the hell can they replace the voices? As much as i hate 4kids, the one thing they actually did right was Pokemon. The voices were perfectly fine for most the characters. And to change the orignal voices after they've done it for this long.
I've signed the Petition. Although they rarely ever work.

God help the Pokemon Company-if they fuck this up.

Quexinos

I wonder if this has anything to do with 4kids reputation you know? Pokemon USA sees that people hate 4kids so they try to do away with all of 4kids… hmm

Cap'n Carter

their efforts are valiant in destroying the immortal evils of 4kid$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

captain usopp

Everyone keeps stating that these voice actors are going to have troubles finding more work. Well, with something like voiced pokemon for 9 yrs on your resume look good. Why wouldn't someone with such experience not get hired for another VA job?

Malintex_Terek

@captain:

Everyone keeps stating that these voice actors are going to have troubles finding more work. Well, with something like voiced pokemon for 9 yrs on your resume look good. Why wouldn't someone with such experience not get hired for another VA job?

No, see typecasting, which I mentioned in my earlier post, as the problem.

Assuredly, eight years of experience is a good boon on any record, but Pokemon provides the ultimate indicator of "vocal range" because so many of the actors have had to play multiple roles. As such, the limits of the actor's breadth of voices is very apparent; knowing that an actor only has two really distinctive voices, and the conditioning of people with the actors through a phenomenon like Pokemon, makes it difficult for them to play other roles seriously without other people getting turned off.

Could you imagine Veronica Taylor playing anything else than a prepubescent male or a teenage girl? What of Eric Stuart playing a non-arrogant male? I can, but not without difficulty; Ash/Deliah and Kaiba come to mind instantly. As such, companies disike such association; they want to have a person with a recognizeable, but non-associated voice. In our case, Lani Minella and Jim Cummings are perfect; they have prolific voice work, but they're not limited to any one character. Cummings can voice a malicous ogre in one show and Winnie the Pooh in another; Minella, a vile demon queen or a middle aged peasantwoman.

captain usopp

Ah, get it. lol I don't follow voice actors, but I've seen Jim Cummings in so many disney credits. Everything from Darkwing Duck to the Lion King.